Meeting Minutes
ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES
March 2, 2009
Call to Order
The regular meeting of the Academic Senate, held on March 2, 2009 was called to order at 3:05pm by Paul A. Mogren, Senate President. The meeting was held in room 115 C. Roland Christensen Center.
Roll:
David Ailion, Peter Alfeld, Tim Ameel, James Anderson, Richard Barton, Shmuel Baruch, Yingbin Fu for Paul S. Bernstein, John Bowman, Jennifer Buhler, Connie Bullis, Vincent Cheng, Hiram Chodosh John Conboy, David Derezotes, Larry DeVries, Marianna DiPaolo, Nadja Durbach, Eric Eddings, Marlene Egger, Phil Emmi, Michael Hardman, Sandra Hasstedt, Greg Hatch, Vladimir Hlady, Susan Olsen for Lauren Holland, Harriet Hopf, Garry Hrechkosy, Randy L. Jensen, Steve Kern, David Kiefer, Thomas Kontuly, Karol Kumpfer, Bruce Landesman, Stephane LeBohec, Edward M. Levine, Joelle Lien, Janet E. Lindsley, Karl Lins, Laurence Loeb, Janis Louie, Zheng-Rong Lu, Brad Lundahl, Peter Martin, James Metherall, William C. Michel, Kathryn Morton, Maria Newton, Erin O’Connell, Kevin Perry, Ofa Pilivi, David Plumlee, Mollie Poynton, StephenLessnick for R. Lor Randall, Steve Reynolds, Rita Reusch, Andrea Rorrer, Nelson Roy, Brock Royall, Bill Schulze, Bam Dev Sharda, James Sibthorp, Randy Silverman, Tim Slover, Paula Smith, Josh Solarez, Harris Sondak, Nancy Staggers, Paul Stout, Margaret Toscano, Tevita Uesi, Cecilia Wainryb, Sharon M. Weinstein, Nick Wolfinger
Excused: Paul S. Bernstein, Laureen Holland, R. Lor Randall, Patrick Reimherr
Ex-officio: Robert Flores, James Graves, Nancy Lines, Paul Mogren, Susan Olson, David W. Pershing, Yev Kopeleva for Patrick Reimherr, Richard Sperry, Michael K. Young
Others: Ann Floor, Carleton DeTar
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Academic Senate meeting of, February 2, 2009 were unanimously approved.
Request for New Business
The White Paper on the important issues student athletes face in higher education was presented by Professor William A. Smith from the Department of Education, Cultural and Society. He indicated that there are three main areas of concern: first, academic reform in Division I; secondly, future strategic direction for Division II; and thirdly, a dearth of diversity in having coordinators and administrators in all three divisions. He referred to an academic and intercollegiate athletic report indicating the misappropriation of diversity in those areas. The full report can be viewed on the Senate webpage.
Consent Calendar
The resignations, retirements, faculty appointments, auxiliary, and limited term appointments, appearing in Appendices I dated March 2, 2009 received approval to forward to the Board of Trustees.
Executive Committee Report
James Anderson, Executive Committee Secretary, presented a summary of his written report of the February 20, 2009 Executive Committee meeting.
Report from Administration
President Michael Young reported on the latest information from the Legislature regarding the state of the budget for higher education. As it now stands, after the 4 percent cut in the base operating budget in December for FY 2009, and the additional 7.25 percent which was “backfilled” to bring it down to 3.6 percent, an added 6 percent for FY 2010 will call for a total of 17.25 percent budget cut. The president indicated that this challenging. The current projection is bad but not horrific, but may cause legislators to relax which then creates consequences in terms of looking for revenue enhancements which could include increasing sales tax on tobacco, gas, and other luxury items. Utah is below the national average and President Young feels that revenue enhancements are a viable strategy and could be beneficial to higher education. The Federal stimulus package will provide about $388 million for public education and higher education but will go away in two years.
Other pieces of legislation included tax credits, tax refunds to save for children’s college, non-resident tuition (defeated), instate tuition to include students who live near Utah’s borders or are children of alumni.
Report from ASUU
Yevgenyia Kopeleva filled in for Patrick Reimherr and gave an overview of the activities of ASUU. March is a busy month with the continued Thursday Music Lounge; a free showing of the film “Milk” on March 5; Bobby McFerrin on March 7 in Abravanel Hall (a subsidized event); a co-sponsored event with the Hinckley Institute featuring Thomas Friedman at Abravanel Hall; Time Wise on March 22 in the Union Ballroom; Reverend Irene Monroe on March 25 in the Union Ballroom; free film series “Bedtime Stories” in the Union Theatre on March 27. Yev also announced that the ASUU elections are being held and the final debate will be held on March 9 in the Hinckley Caucus Room at noon. The Student Choice Awards which recognizes faculty are due on March 13 and will be announced on April 22. The revise RedPages will be ready for student in the fall. A Tax Fair on March 26 in the Union Ballroom has been scheduled to educate students on how to file their taxes. Finally, the annual “Rock the U” marathon to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute will be on March 27 and 28. Yev also thanked the Marriott Library for allowing free parking during finals week and are hopeful that they will also allow free printing during finals week.
Notice of Intent
Susan Olson reviewed the proposed Criminal Background Check Policy and asked that any comments to be forwarded to her prior to the April senate meeting. The policy restates what the Regents policy is and articulates the choices the institution should make. It also outlines the process to review and make decisions. HR will be the liaison for the university to the contracted company while the senior vice presidents will notify departments and chairs after reviewing the facts. The policy must be in place in May. Concern was voiced that student loan delinquency should not be included as a criminal misconduct and should be removed.
Debate Calendar
Carleton DeTar, chair of the University RPT Appeals Committee, presented the revised proposed policy changes to RPT policies in 6-303, 6-305 and 6-002. He reiterated that the request to review these policies for further clarity concerning the make-up, duties, criteria, and standards for retention, tenure and promotion of faculty. The primary objective, which has been approved by our general council, is to ensure that University Policy clearly sets forth certain minimum standards that all departments must adopt and apply in RPT cases, particularly in the granting of tenure. Robert Flores further explained the proposed language on minimum requirements of effectiveness and excellence should be seen largely as a codification of existing practices, stated with greater clarity so as to minimize opportunities for misunderstanding and dispute. The new language changes regarding excellence and effectiveness can be viewed online at www.regulations.utah.edu. Following a round of straw votes, a motion from Jim Anderson, seconded by Zheng-Rong Lu to approve Policy 6-303 as amended, received unanimous approval.
Information Items
The Graduate Council reviews of the Department of Mathematics and the College of Law were accepted and will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
New Business
Paul Mogren reminded the senators to be thinking about the upcoming election and who they would like to nominate for president-elect.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 5:15pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Nancy Lines